Guest announcer



J. W. BROWN GUEST ANNOUNCER July 28, 1936.

Filed May 9, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1'2 I. Z I

I l I l I I l I I l l l l I I l l I l I I I l l I I I I I I IIjIIII/l/l/l/I/l/ July 28, 1936. J w BROWN 2,048,673

GUEST ANNOUNGER Filed May 9, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E}. 1 J'7 /y Lat Z8 I I I fireniar:

Patented July 28, 1936 PATENT OFFICE GUES T ANNOUNCER James W. Brown, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Carl 0. Nordensson, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application May 9, 1932, Serial No..610,119

2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in guest announcers, the primary object being to provide simple, and effective means for sounding, in a pleasing manner, the arrival of a caller at the entrance of a dwelling or other place. Another object is to provide a device of the class stated which is less expensive in construction than heretofore, thus tending to popularize a device which produces more pleasing and satisfactory results. A 1

the class stated in which the make and break electrical connections are not liable to disorder due to corrosion or other reasons. Among further ob jects are to provide means for regulating the loudness of the sound produced by the device and to provide means whereby the device can be operated from a number of stations such as the front and back entrances of a dwelling and the occupant appraised of which station the call origi- 20 nates. With these and other objects in view my invention comprises the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my invention, part of the structure being broken away and in section; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevation of the electrical make and break device used at the upper end of the pendulum; Figs. 4 and 5 are end elevations of the structure shown in Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the wiring scheme employed with the device.

In the drawings, A indicates a suitable base or back upon which the parts of my improved structure are mounted and B a suitable cover which may be ornamented 'as desired so as to produce an attractive configuration suitable for use in a 40 dwelling or other place, said structure being adapted to be fastened to a Wall or otherwise stationed within hearing rangeof the occupants to announce the arrival of a guest or other person at an entrance. In this structure is arranged a 45 suitable sounding device which as shown consists of a pair or plurality of sounding rods Ill and H or other sounding means, disposed vertically or otherwise at either side of the structure and rigidly secured respectively to the metallic head pieces I2 and [3, which are mounted at the upper 'end of the base A, by screws 14 or other suitable means. These rods are of diiferent lengths, each being adapted to impart a different pitch when set in vibration by the striker to be hereinafter described.

further object is to provide means in a device of Arranged within the structure on a pinion or bracket I5 is a pendulum C, which is so balanced as to have a fairly long period of oscillation, the counter weights I6 and I! on its upper and lower ends serving to augment this action and to im- 5 part momentum thereto. The pendulum is journaled through the bracket support l5 by theknife blade I8, the latter forming a downward projection from the armature I 9 which is secured to said pendulum by soldering or other suitable 10 means. In juxtaposition to said armature and secured rigidly to said base A is an electromagn'et D, which when energizedserves to attract armature l9 and draw the pendulum C against an adjustable stop 2|. Said stop limits the stroke of the pendulum and consists of an arm rigidly secured by pivot bolt 22 to said base but movable when the bolt is loosened to permit adjusting the cushioned arm 23 thereof in the path of the pendulum weight I! and thus regulate the length of stroke of the pendulum. At the upper end of the pendulum, the weight l8 contains a pair of mercury switches E and F, which are adapted to automatically complete a circuit through a sounder actuating solenoid G located in juxtaposition to the upper ends of the rods l0 and II so that the striker core 24 thereof will strike and sound said rods alternately when the pendulum oscillates as will be hereinafter described.

Each mercury switch consists of a hermetically sealed tube, containing a small quantity of mercury 25 and having a pair of inleading switch terminals 26 and 21, which are adapted to be closed by the mercury to complete a circuit or opened to break a circuit as the tubes are tilted back and forward by the oscillation of the pendulum. The switch tubes are seated in slots 28 and 29 in the opposite sides of the weight 16 in reclining position at opposite angles so that as the pendulum oscillates the circuit is closed successively, first through one tube and then through the other to cause the striker 24 to strike first against one sounding rod and then the other, successively. Adhesive tape 20 is used by which the conductors 52 and 51 leading to the tubes are fastened.

The solenoid G consists of two suitable solenoid coils 30 and 3|, containing the single horizontal striker core which is first reciprocated in one direction and strikes the sounding rods III or 5 II when coil 30 is energized and then in opposite direction to strike the other rod when coil 3| is. energized.

Mounted upon the base A in any suitable position is a combined volumn control and thermo- 55 static circuit breaker H, whose function is to regulate the loudness of sound produced by the sounding rods by regulating the flow of current through the solenoid coils 30 and 3| and consequent force of blow delivered by the striker core 24 and to shunt the current traversing the coils through a resistance to prevent damage should an over flow of current occur by mis-use or disorder of the device. The element H consists of a core 32 of insulating material and a resistance winding 33 over the core, connected to the mounting terminals 34 and 35, the latter being connected to the operating parts of the device as will be hereinafter described. At the back of the core bar 32, in position to be influenced by heat from the resistance coil 33 is a thermostatic circuit breaker 35, one end of which is rigidly and electrically connected with terminal 34 and the other end arranged to press by inert pressure when cold against an adjusting terminal 31, the latter being electrically connected with terminal 35. When subjected to the influence of heat from the resistance coil 33, the circuit breaker is adapted to move out of contact through thermostatic action with terminal 31 and open a circuit traversing the thermostatic element 36, thus interposing the resistance of coil 33 in circuit only as will be hereinafter described.

Conveniently mounted on the base A is an electrically actuated stop I for initially checking the length of stroke of the pendulum so as to reduce the number of oscillations thereof when the guest announcer is operated and provide a distinguishing sound feature whereby an attendant can determine one or the other location from which a call originates, thus adapting a single device for a double purpose.

Binding posts 40, 4|, 42 and 43 at the upper end of the base serve as connecting means between the parts of the device and the outside circuits, the latter consisting of a source of current derived from the transformer J (see Fig. 6) the circuit closing push button switch 44 or 45 and the wiring 45. Said switches are adapted for use at two stations, one for illustration being at the front entrance and the other at the back entrance of a dwelling and are connected so as to cause the pendulum swinging either a short or long stroke to distinguish the stations from which the device is operated by varying the number of times the sound-rods are struck.

Operation Assuming that push button switch 44, located at a front entrance is closed, magnet D is energized by current from one end of the secondary coil of the transformer J, through binding post 42, conductor 41, winding of magnet D, thence by conductor 48 through thermostatic element 36. terminal 31, conductor 49, binding post 4| and back to the opposite end of said transformer secondary coil. Energizing magnet D starts the pendulum in its oscillation by swinging it into superior position. Immediately upon switch 44 being released the pendulum swings freely upon its support |5 by its own momentum and at the end of each stroke closes one or the other of mercury switches E or F automatically and the sounding circuit connected therewith. The number of oscillations of the pendulum is determined by regulating the slap 2|. cuit through mercury tube E is first closed,currcnt passes from the secondary coil of transformer J .by binding post 40, conductor 50, through pendulum C, conductor 5|, contacts of mercury switch Assuming that the cir- E, conductors 52, coil 3| of solenoid G, thence by conductor 54, to the rheostat arm 55 of thermostatic circuit breaker H, part of resistance winding 33, thermostatic element 36, contact 31, conductor 49, binding post 4| and thence back to transformer J, thus energizing solenoid G by the sound circuit defined above and causing the solenoid core 24 to strike sounding rod When the pendulum swings back, circuit through mercury switch E is opened and a second sound circuit is closed thus completing a circuit through the opposed coil 30 of solenoid G and causing solenoid core 24 to react and strike the sounding rod J. This latter sound circuit is completed through mercury switch F, receives current from the secondary winding of transformer J and traverses conductor 50, pendulum C, conductor 5|, contacts of mercury switch F, conductor 51' to coil 30, thence by conductor 54, rheostat arm 55, part of resistance coil 33, thermostat element 36,.and conductor 49 back to the transformer J. Thus at the end of each stroke of the pendulum the solenoid G is energized and one or the other -of the sounding rods H] or H struck.

In the event push switch 45 is closed at a different location than switch 44, the solenoid I is energized through conductors 58 and 59 and its core 56 projected into the path of the pendulum so as to limit the length of stroke thereof. As a result the pendulum, when released will swing freely a less number of times and the striker 24 will strike the sound rods accordingly a less number of times, thus distinguishing between the stations from which signals originate.

If it is desired to weaken or dampen the sound of the chime rods l0 and I, .the strength of blow delivered by the striker 24 is subdued by regulating the resistance of coil 33 by movement of rheostat arm 55, said resistance being interposed in the magnet operating circuit. Thus the volume of sound produced by the device can easily be increased or decreased by the operator.

Should the external circuit of which conductor 45 is a part be short circuited or left closed accidentally, the heat generated by at least a portion of the thermostatic coil 33 will cause the thermostatic element 36 to bend outwardly and automatically open the circuit passing therethrough, thus shunting the entire resistance of. coil 33 into the main circuit. The resistance of coil 33 being comparatively high will thus prevent damage to the magnet and solenoid coils of the device. Normally only a small amount of resistance at the lower end of coil 33 is in circuit, the'thermostatic conductor 36 being of low resistance below that of the upper portion of coil 33.

In accordance with the patent. statutes, I have described the principles of operation of my invention together with the construction thereof which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I' desire to have it understood that the structure shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set forth within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire-to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A sound producing device, comprising, in

combination, a base member having supporting means extending transversely thereof, sounding rods supported from the opposite ends of said supporting means, solenoid windings below said supporting means extending horizontally between said sounding rods and having their axes .75

substantially aligned, a solenoid core freely reciprocable in said windings and of such length relative to said windings as to be moved to one extreme position and strike one of said rods when only one winding is energized and to the other extreme position and strike the other of said rods when only the other winding is energized, a pendulum poised on said base below said windings, two way switching means associated with said pendulum, an electrical energizing circuit connected with the solenoid windings and switching means, whereby as the pendulum swings electrical current is directed to alternately energize said windings and cause said striker core to move first in one direction and then the other and alternately strike said rods a predetermined number of times after the pendulum is swung into superior position and released, an electromagnet having an energizing coil and an armature associated with a swinging portion of said pendulum, said coil when energized adapted to influence said armature and set said pendulum in free swinging motion, a switch controlled pendulum actuating circuit connected with said magnet coil and adapted when closed to cause the raising of said pendulum into superior position and when subsequently opened to release and permit the pendulum swinging freely by its own momentum, and means for changing the length of stroke of said pendulum so as to change the number of impacts of said striker core against said sounding rods after the pendulum has been set in operation.

2. A sound producing device, comprising, in combination, a base member having supporting means extending transversely thereof, sounding rods supported from the opposite ends of said supporting means, solenoid windings below said supporting means extending horizontally between said sounding rods and having their axes substantially aligned, a solenoid core freely reciprocable in said windings and of such length relative to said windings as to be moved to one extreme position and strike one of said rods when only one winding is energized and to the other 5 into superior position and released, an electromagnet having an energizing coil and an armature associated with a swinging portion of said pendulum, said coil when energized adapted to influence said armature and set said pendulum in free swinging motion, a manually operable switch controlled pendulum actuating circuit connected with said magnet coil and'adapted when closed to cause the raising of said pendulum into superior position and when subsequently opened to release and permit the pendulum swinging freely by its own momentum,

said last mentioned circuit having a*manually operable switch controlled branch in parallel therewith, a solenoid winding in said branch and a core associated with said last mentioned solenoid winding and pendulum which in energized position is arranged to intercept and reduce the length of the stroke of the pendulum and thereby I reduce the number of strokes of said striker core when said branch is closed.

JAMES W. BROWN. 

